Who defines normal?
You look normal. I really feel like shouting from the rooftops, “you can’t see what happened, my pain!”
Yet I know being rude is not helpful and does not give the other person an opportunity to learn and grow. People, not all folks but many are confused as to what to say. We can learn from each others expereinces.
The strongest of men and women can experience an event or a series of trauma and become emotionally damaged. They need help. Our workplace can cause trauma. Mental health, depression, suicide and PTSD are not in our daily conversations and they need to be.
Let’s talk campaign.
I know individuals who are too afraid to speak to their grown children about depression, suicide and the importance of accessing professional help. Avoiding that conversation can be deadly. If you see someone struggling to get across the street, would you offer to help? Yes. If you see someone fall down on the sidewalk would you offer to help? Yes probably. Well, watching someone struggle with mental health and depression reach out have the conversation. People who are dealing with depression tend to avoid social settings, family and friends. I know I did. Scared to be alone and yet, too tired to be with family. I was scared of the truth, PTSD sounds like prison. Acknowledging the problem is the beginning of recovery, next step is finding what works and feels safe as supports. Professional and medical are both beneficial in recovery and also an individual choice.
“Helping someone with depression can be a challenge. If someone in your life has depression, you may feel helpless and wonder what to do. Learn how to offer support and understanding and how to help your loved one get the resources to cope with depression. Here’s what you can do.
Learn the symptoms of depression
Depression signs and symptoms vary from person to person. They can include:
- Feelings of sadness, tearfulness, emptiness or hopelessness
- Angry outbursts, irritability or frustration, even over small matters
- Loss of interest or pleasure in most or all normal activities, such as sex, hobbies or sports
- Insomnia or sleeping too much
- Tiredness and lack of energy, so even small tasks take extra effort
- Changes in appetite — reduced appetite and weight loss or increased cravings for food and weight gain
- Anxiety, agitation or restlessness
- Slowed thinking, speaking or body movements
- Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixating on past failures or blaming yourself for things that aren’t your responsibility
- Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things
- Frequent or recurrent mention of death, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts or suicide
- Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches “
None of us is immune from having a mental illness.
